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India Lost, West Indies Pull Off a Stunning Chase
India and West Indies played out a thrilling third ODI on 3 October 2026 at the PCA International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The hosts came into the match with a 2-0 lead. Therefore, they wanted to finish the series with a clean sweep. However, West Indies had other plans. In the end, they chased down 352 runs and won by five wickets with 10 balls to spare.
The Men In Blue Recover After Early Wickets
Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bat first. However, the start was far from ideal. India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli early. Kohli, in fact, was dismissed for a golden duck by Jayden Seales. As a result, India were soon under pressure.
Still, Men in blue fought back well. Rohit Sharma took charge and played a fine innings of 92 runs from 85 balls. He hit 10 fours and three sixes. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad added 57 runs. Together, they helped India move from a poor start to a strong position.
Then came KL Rahul’s brilliant knock. Playing his first ODI of the series, Rahul stayed calm when India needed him most. He scored an unbeaten 129 from only 87 balls. Moreover, he reached his century in just 80 balls. His innings had nine fours and three sixes. As a result, The hosts recovered from 28/2 and finished with a huge 351/7.
West Indies Answer with a Stunning Chase
On paper, 351 looked like a winning score. After all, India had already scored 300 and 406 in the first two matches. However, West Indies showed great courage. Instead of sitting back, their batters attacked the Indian bowlers from the start.
Shai Hope led the chase in superb fashion. The West Indies captain played with patience, skill and power. He scored an unbeaten 162 from 143 balls. Even when he suffered from cramps, Hope refused to give up. He kept batting and guided his team closer to the target.
At the other end, Amir Jangoo also played a key role. He scored 67 from 56 balls. Therefore, West Indies built a strong base for the chase. Later, other batters kept the pressure on India. West Indies reached 352/5 in 48.2 overs and completed one of their best ODI chases.
India’s Bowling Fails as West Indies Finish Strong
The result also exposed India’s main weakness: their bowling. India had enough runs on the board, but the bowlers could not defend them. Mohammed Siraj took one wicket for 52 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav took one for 62. Anshul Kamboj, meanwhile, conceded 82 runs in nine overs.
Furthermore, India’s bowlers struggled to build pressure. West Indies kept finding boundaries and singles, and the hosts could not stop the flow of runs. As the chase moved into the final 10 overs, the visitors looked more confident. Consequently, the pressure shifted fully onto India.
What This Means For West Indies
For West Indies, the win was much more than just a consolation. They had lost the first two ODIs by eight wickets. Therefore, many expected another comfortable Indian win. Instead, West Indies produced a remarkable response.
For Gill & co., however, the defeat gives the team several questions to answer. Their batting once again looked strong, especially after the early wickets. Rahul’s innings was a major positive, while Rohit’s 92 also showed his class. Nevertheless, the bowling attack must improve if they want to compete strongly in big ODI games.
Overall, this was a match that West Indies deserved to win. Gautam Gambhir’s team made a huge total, but their bowlers could not finish the job. Meanwhile, Hope played one of the best ODI innings of his career and carried his team over the line.
In the end, Men in blue won the three-match series 2-1, but West Indies finished on a high. More importantly, the third ODI showed that a big total does not always guarantee victory. On this day, West Indies stayed calm, attacked at the right time and completed a stunning chase.
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